Terminal pin ejector



Feb. 18, 1964 w, w, DQNEE 3,121,282

TERMINAL PIN EJECTQR Filed May 29, 1961 INVENTOR. W/LL/QM MC DONE'E ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,121,282 TERMENAL PEN EEECTOR William W. Dance, 9224 lirooltshire Ave., Apt. 32, Downey, Calif. Filed May 29, 1961, Ser. No. 113,298 6 Claims. Cl. 29-206) This invention has to do with means for ejecting selflocking terminal pins at the ends of wires from the holes of control boards in which they are detachably mounted.

There are many instances where the ends of wires are detachably mounted in switchboards or control boards to complete electrical circuits. One example of this is the so-called fixed wires which are detachably mounted at their ends in tabulating machine control boards. Such wires have self-locking terminal pins which are inserted in the appropriate holes in the board to make the electrical connections. Each pin is substantially longer than the thickness of the board and has an axially and rearwardly extending integral spring element which expands on the far or rear side of the board when the pin is fully inserted, serving to secure the pin in place.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel tool for ejecting such terminal pins of the wires described from the holes in which they are releasably mounted in tabulating machine control boards and the like.

Another object is to provide a tool for the purpose described of simple construction which can be easily operated. In this connection, it is an object to provide a tool which is designed to easily slip over the projecting end portion of a terminal pin to be ejected, and, upon operation, successively contract the spring portion thereof, by application of force radially thereto, and eject the pin from the hole. These and other objects will be apparent from the drawing and the following description. Referring to the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a central sectional elevational view of a device embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the device in position to remove a terminal pin and with the parts in different positions;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of FIG. 1, but on a larger scale;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on line 44 of FIG. 1, but on a larger scale;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of FIG. 2, but on the same scale as FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective exploded view of one finger element and its mounting bushing; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views similar to FIG. 6 but showing modifications of the finger elements and associated bushmg.

More particularly describing the invention, numeral 11 generally indicates a tubular housing or support member shown as cylindrical which is provided intermediate its ends with a bushing 12 having a central aperture 1.3 to receive slidably a plunger or operating rod 15'. A bushing 17 is mounted at the inner end of the housing and this has a central opening 18 of smaller diameter than the opening through bushing 12 for the purpose of receiving a section 24 of the plunger which is of smaller diameter than the remainder or main section of the plunger, designated 21. A compression spring 22 between bushing 12 and a washer 24 on the plunger and in abutment with a cross pin 25 serves to yieldably hold the plunger in the normal position of FIG. 1. A second cross pin, designated 26, serves to limit outward movement of the plunger. The bushings are shown held in place by screws 27.

The bushing 17 is provided with three slots or interruptions 23 in its peripheral surface which extend generally radially of the bushing and are equispaced circum- 3,12LZ8Z Patented Feb. 18, 1%64 ferentially thereof. The slots have V-shaped inner walls 29.

At the inner end of the housing I provide three fingers 34 each or which includes an intermediate, laterally otlset V-shaped portion 31 which is mounted in a slot 28 of bushing 17. Each finger has a straight outer end portion 32 which is transversely curved through approximately so that when the three fingers are disposed together as shown in FIG. 5, they in effect form a cylindrical tube. The inner end portion of each finger includes a straight section 33 which is outwardly laterally offset somewhat from the outer end portion 32 and which terminates in an outwardly curved end section 34. Also, each finger is provided with a leaf or flat spring 35 which is pinned or otherwise secured thereto at 36. The springs normally bear against the inner walls of the housing and thereby tend to pivot the fingers so that the outer portions 32 are expanded as shown in FIG. 1. In this position the inner end portions abut the smaller section 20 of the plunger. However, under the action of the plunger or operating rod moving inwardly from the position of FIG. 1, the inner ends of the fingers are cammed outwardly by the transitional section 38 of the plunger causing the outer ends of the fingers to contract. The outward movement of the fingers is limited by abutment of the curved end section 34 against the housing 11.

To facilitate operation of the device, in one possible mode of operation, the housing and plunger are shown provided with handle elements 4%? and ll, respectively. Other means, such as the action of an electrical solenoid, may be utilized to effect operation of the device. In use, with the parts in the position shown in FIG. 1, the fingers 30 are slipped over the end of pin 45 which is releasably secured in a hole 4-6 of a control board 47 by its expanded spring element 45'. After the fingers have encompassed the projecting end of the pin, the plunger is moved inwardly of the housing to contract the fingers and thereby compress or deflect the spring 45' of the pin inwardly, as shown in FIG. 2, and thus allow the pin to be partially ejected from the hole by further movement of the plunger which moves partially through the fingers.

In FIG. 7, I show an alternate form of finger and bushing construction. Here, the bushing, designated 17A is provided with narrow radial slots 5%? to receive flattened central sections 51 of fingers 3 53A. Pins 52 which extend through walls 53 pivotally support the fingers.

In FIG. 8 a bushing 17B is shown provided with radial sections 55 for mounting fingers EllB having apertured cars 56, recesses 57 being provided in the periphery of the bushing to receive the fingers. Pins, similar to the one shown in FIG. 7, secure the parts and permit the fingers to pivot.

Although I have shown and described preferred forms of my invention, 1 contemplate that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as indicated by the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A terminal pin ejector, comprising a tubular housing, a plurality of fingers mounted in and projecting from one end of the housing, said fingers being disposed circularly about a common axis and being support-ed intermediate their ends for pivotal movement about axes in a plane normal to said common axis and tangential to a circle in the plane and having its center on said axis, the projecting portions of said fingers being laterally arcuate about said common axis, a plunger mounted for axial movement on said common axis in said housing, and cam means on said plunger engageable with said fingers to pivot the same in a manner to cause the projecting end portions of the fingers to contract about said common axis in response to movement of the plunger toward the projecting end portions of the fingers, said plunger having an end portion movable axially within the projecting portions of the finge's after said cam means has engaged said fingers and contracted them.

2. A terminal pin ejector, comprising a tubular housing, a plurality of fingers mounted in and projecting from one end of the housing, said fingers being disposed circularly about a common axis and being supported intermediate their ends for pivotal movement about axes in a plane normal to said common axis and tangential to a circle in the plane and having its center on said axis, the projecting portions of said fingers being laterally arcuate about said common axis, a plunger mounted in said housing for limited axial movement along said common axis, said plunger having a main section of relatively bring said transitional and main sections within the inner portions of the fingers thereby to pivot said fingers and cause the projecting portions to contract about said common axis.

3. The device of claim 2 in which spring means is pro vided for yieldaoly holding said plunger in said normal position.

4. The device of claim 2 in which said plunger is slidably sup orted in axiall spaced bushings mounted in said housing.

5. The device of claim 2 in which said housing is provided with a bushing at its end receiving said plunger and in whic said fingers are pivotally supported on said bushing. s

6. A terminal pin ejector, comprising a support member, a plurality of fingers disposed circularly about a common axis and mounted intermediate their ends on the support member for pivotal movement about axes in a plane normal to said common axis and tangential to a circle in the plane and having its center on said axis, said fingers having laterally arcuate end portions at one end for encompassing a projecting terminal pin, a plunger mounted on said support member for axial movement on said common axis, and interengaging cam means on said fingers and said plunger operable upon advance of said plunger to pivot said lingers in a manner such that said arcuate end portions contract about said common axis, said plunger having a leading end portion movable on said common axis between said arcuate end portions of the fingers after the same have contracted.

Referenees Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,213,133 Poister Jan. 16, 1917 2,163,716 Turner June 27, 1939 2,548,773 Chirelstein -a Apr. 10, 1951 2,835,029 Collins May 20, 1958 

1. A TERMINAL PIN EJECTOR, COMPRISING A TUBULAR HOUSING, A PLURALITY OF FINGERS MOUNTED IN AND PROJECTING FROM ONE END OF THE HOUSING, SAID FINGERS BEING DISPOSED CIRCULARLY ABOUT A COMMON AXIS AND BEING SUPPORTED INTERMEDIATE THEIR ENDS FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT AXES IN A PLANE NORMAL TO SAID COMMON AXIS AND TANGENTIAL TO A CIRCLE IN THE PLANE AND HAVING ITS CENTER ON SAID AXIS, THE PROJECTING PORTIONS OF SAID FINGERS BEING LATERALLY ARCUATE ABOUT SAID COMMON AXIS, A PLUNGER MOUNTED FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT ON SAID COMMON AXIS IN SAID HOUSING, AND CAM MEANS ON SAID PLUNGER ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID FINGERS TO PIVOT THE SAME IN A MANNER TO CAUSE THE PROJECTING END PORTIONS OF THE FINGERS TO CONTRACT ABOUT SAID COMMON AXIS IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF THE PLUNGER TOWARD THE PROJECTING END PORTIONS OF THE FINGERS, SAID PLUNGER HAVING AN END PORTION MOVABLE AXIALLY WITHIN THE PROJECTING PORTIONS OF THE FINGERS AFTER SAID CAM MEANS HAS ENGAGED SAID FINGERS AND CONTRACTED THEM. 